BRIDGEWATER, Va. - The EMU MVB team made the short trip down 42 on Saturday, for a pair of matches at Bridgewater College. 

In the day's opener, the Royals swept the host Eagles, winning 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 27-25). In the middle match, however, it was Shenandoah picking up the win, downing EMU 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21). 

EMU at Bridgewater

Records: EMU 11-12, 6-5 ODAC | Bridgewater 5-21, 2-9 ODAC

Highlights

Set One: EMU 25, BC 14

• EMU jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start the match, highlighted by a pair of aces from Ricky Fernandez and kills from Derek Diaz and Jose Melendez. 
• The teams swapped points to EMU leading 11-5, and then the Royals went on another run, this time 10-2, using kills from Ezekiel Awkward, Diaz, Melendez and another Fernandez ace, to pull ahead 21-7. 
• Two points later, with EMU leading 23-8, BC went on a 5-0 run to pull within 23-13. But an Eagle error and a Daeman Odom kill gave EMU a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two: EMU 25, BC 15

• Kills from Odom, Diaz and Awkward, and a Melendez ace put EMU ahead 6-2 to start set two. The teams traded points and BC was able to pull within two, 10-8, before EMU broke the set open with a 10-3 tilt, with two kills apiece from Odom and Diaz, and a pair of Melendez aces. 
• Bridgewater was able to cut their deficit to six, but the Royals reeled off four straight points, with a kill and a block from Pierce Donnelly leading the way. After an EMU service error, a kill from Melendez secured the set and put the Royals ahead 2-0. 

Set Three: EMU 27, BC 25

• EMU pulled out to a slim two-point lead, 6-4, to open the third, but weren't able to pull ahead by more, as BC surged ahead, taking an 11-10 lead. 
• The Royals went on a 3-0 run, with two kills from Odom, to lead 13-11, but Bridgewater tied things at 13. The teams traded points to 16-16, until EMU won the next three points and five of the next seven, to lead 21-18. 
• Bridgewater pulled even with a 3-0 run, and eventually took a one-point lead at 24-23. Back-to-back kills from Johnathan Badowski got EMU to match point, but an Eagles kill tied things once again. But EMU wouldn't be denied, as a Diaz kill and a James Powell ace gave EMU the sweep. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Melendez and Odom (11), Diaz (10)
Assists: Fernandez (25)
Digs: Rey De La Cruz (7)
Service Aces: Melendez and Fernandez (3)

EMU vs Shenandoah

Records: EMU 11-13, 6-6 ODAC | Shenandoah 7-10, 2-9 ODAC

Highlights

Set One: Shenandoah 25, EMU 23

• Kills from Diaz and Odom, along with two Fernandez aces, put EMU ahead 4-0. Later in the set, with EMU leading 8-6 after a Bennett Barco kill, SU pulled ahead 10-8 after a 4-0 run. 
• EMU pulled ahead with a 9-3 run, highlighted by three kills from Melendez. But the Hornets responded with a run of their own, 5-1, tying the set at 18. 
• The teams traded 3-0 runs to 21-21 and a block from Barco and Powell put the Royals ahead by one. But SU would pick up the set win, winning four of the next five points, for a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two: EMU 25, Shenandoah 23

• This time it was the Hornets pulling out early, leading 10-6 through the first 16 points. EMU rallied to tie things at 10 with a 4-0 run with two kills from Diaz, one from Melendez and an Melendez block.
• Shenandoah re-took the lead, 14-11, but a big 9-1 EMU run put them in the driver's seat, 20-15. 
• With EMU holding a lead, the Hornets were able to pull within one, 22-21 before a kill from Melendez and a Diaz/Melendez block got the Royals to set point. Shenandoah won the next two points to cut their deficit to one, but a kill from Diaz stopped the rally and tied the match at one. 

Set Three: Shenandoah 25, EMU 22

• An early 9-1 Hornet run put SU ahead 10-4 in the third set. EMU was able to pull within three at both 11-8 and 13-10, but Shenandoah extended their lead with a 4-0 tilt. 
• The teams traded points to 23-17 until EMU started to climb back in with a 5-1 run, including kills from Diaz and Barco and a Melendez/Diaz block. But a Hornet kill, killed EMU's rally and gave Shenandoah a 2-1 lead. 

Set Four: Shenandoah 25, EMU 21

• EMU came out blazing in the fourth, jumping out to a 7-1 lead with three kills, two block and two aces. The Royals would continue to lead, and keep it at six, 12-6, after a kill from Barco. 
• The Hornets went on a 6-0 run to tie things at 12 but EMU answered right back with three straight points from Diaz and Melendez kills and a Powell/Diaz block. 
• EMU kept the lead, with SU cutting it to two, 18-16 after an Odom kill. But SU battled back with a 4-0 run before a Melendez/Barco block pulled EMU within one. The teams traded two points each, and SU finished things off with three straight points for the win. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Odom (13), Diaz (12), Melendez (11), Barco (10)
Assists: Fernandez (25), Gael Bravo (10)
Digs: Fernandez (11)
Blocks: Powell (6), Barco (5), Diaz and Melendez (4)
Service Aces: Fernandez (3)

What's Next
EMU is back in action on Wednesday, when they welcome in ODAC leader Randolph Macon for Rowdy Royals. First serve against the Yellow Jackets is set for 7:00 pm. 

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